Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: March 22, 2019

	Nonfarm jobs fall by 400 in February; unemployment rate unchanged at 3.8%
	WETHERSFIELD, March 21 2019 - Preliminary Connecticut nonfarm job estimates from the business payroll survey administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the state lost 400 net jobs (0.02%) in February 2019, to a level of 1,693,900 seasonally adjusted. Over the year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 4,600 jobs (0.3%). The January 2019 originally-released job gain of 1,000 was revised down sharply to a loss of 2,500. The number of the state's unemployed residents was estimated at 73,900, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from January. As a result, Connecticut's February unemployment rate is at 3.8%, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from the revised January level. Resident employment estimates include the self-employed and residents working out of state and are determined separately from the nonfarm payroll job estimates above. None of the movements in payroll job estimates or residential employment are considered statistically significant. "February jobs saw a small decline of 400 jobs, essentially leaving Connecticut's labor market unchanged from January" said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. "However, January's final revision was sharply down from our preliminary release, partly due to the normal revision process as more data became available for the sample, and partly due to a correction to estimates on our construction supersector."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Private Sector shrank by 500 (0.0%) to 1,456,900 jobs over the month in February, and remains up 4,400 (0.3%) seasonally adjusted jobs over the year. The Government supersector was up slightly in February (100, 0.0%) to a total of 237,000, and is now up 200 jobs (0.1%) over the year. The Government supersector includes all federal, state and local employment, including public higher education and Native American casino employment located on tribal land.

Five of the ten major industry supersectors gained employment in February, while four declined. Professional and Business Services led gainers with an increase of 800 jobs (0.4%, 217,600 total jobs). The Manufacturing supersector was next, adding 600 (0.4%, 161,400). Information grew by 200 (0.6%, 33,100) while Government (0.0%, 237,000) and Other Services (0.2%, 64,500) each added 100 positions.

The Trade, Transportation & Utilities supersector led declines dropping 1,000 jobs (-0.3%), followed by Educational and Health Services with a decline of 600 ( -0.2%). The Leisure and Hospitality supersector shed 400 positions (-0.2%), while Construction and Mining fell by 200 ( -0.3%).

Labor Market Information - Connecticut, Employment Sectors & United States Nonfarm Employment

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Feb 2019	Feb 2018	Change	Rate %	Feb 2019	Jan 2019	Change	Rate %	Dec 2018	Nov 2018	Oct 2018
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,693,900	1,689,300	4,600	0.3%	1,693,900	1,694,300	-400	-0.0%	1,696,800	1,695,700	1,694,000
	Private Sector	1,456,900	1,452,500	4,400	0.3%	1,456,900	1,457,400	-500	-0.0%	1,459,800	1,458,500	1,457,100

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	62,000	58,500	3,500	6.0%	62,000	62,100	-100	-0.2%	61,400	60,300	59,100

	Manufacturing	161,400	160,000	1,400	0.9%	161,400	160,800	600	0.4%	160,400	160,400	160,500
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	294,100	298,000	-3,900	-1.3%	294,100	295,100	-1,000	-0.3%	296,100	295,600	296,300

	Information	33,100	32,000	1,100	3.4%	33,100	32,900	200	0.6%	32,700	32,500	32,000

	Financial Activities	126,500	126,400	100	0.1%	126,500	126,500	0	0.0%	127,000	126,700	126,500

	Professional and Business Services	217,600	220,800	-3,200	-1.4%	217,600	216,800	800	0.4%	219,500	221,200	221,300

	Educational and Health Services	336,200	334,100	2,100	0.6%	336,200	336,800	-600	-0.2%	336,900	336,100	336,500

	Leisure and Hospitality	161,000	157,100	3,900	2.5%	161,000	161,400	-400	-0.2%	160,500	159,700	159,200

	Other Services	64,500	65,000	-500	-0.8%	64,500	64,400	100	0.2%	64,800	65,500	65,200

	Government	237,000	236,800	200	0.1%	237,000	236,900	100	0.0%	237,000	237,200	236,900
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	150,606,000	148,097,000	2,509,000	1.7%	150,606,000	150,586,000	20,000	0.0%	150,275,000	150,048,000	149,852,000

Connecticut has now recovered 80.7% (97,100 jobs) of the 120,300 seasonally adjusted jobs lost in the "Great Recession" (3/08-1/10). The job recovery is into its 109th month and the state needs an additional 23,200 net new jobs to reach an overall nonfarm employment expansion. The state's Private Sector sector is at 99.6% (111,500) of the 112,000 private sector jobs lost in that same employment downturn.

Connecticut's Recessionary Job Loss and Recovery March 2008 - February 2019

Connecticut's Recessionary Job Loss and Recovery March 2008 - February 2019

March
2008 January
2010 February
2019 Jobs Lost Recovered

Jobs Percent

CT Nonfarm Employment 1,717.1 1,596.8 1,693.9 -120.3 97.1 80.7%

Total Private Sector 1,457.4 1,345.4 1,456.9 -112.0 111.5 99.6%

* March 2008 was employment peak. January 2010 was employment trough. Last Updated: March 21, 2019

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Two of the six LMAs seasonally adjusted by the BLS saw job increases in February 2019 and three saw declines. The New Haven LMA (0.2%, 288,200) led gainers with 500 net new jobs while the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA posted a gain of 300 (0.1%, 410,200). The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA saw a loss of 2,300 jobs (-0.4%, 581,600), while both the Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (-0.2%, 129,400) and the Danbury LMA (-0.3%, 77,600) saw small losses of 200. The Waterbury LMA (69,200) was unchanged.

	February	January	December	November	February	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2019 P	2019 R	2018	2018	2018	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	410,200	409,900	410,500	409,400	409,000	300	0.1%	1,200	0.3%
Danbury	77,600	77,800	77,600	77,600	77,800	-200	-0.3%	-200	-0.3%
Hartford	581,600	583,900	586,500	585,900	580,200	-2,300	-0.4%	1,400	0.2%
New Haven	288,200	287,700	287,600	286,900	285,200	500	0.2%	3,000	1.1%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	129,400	129,600	129,600	129,800	130,400	-200	-0.2%	-1,000	-0.8%
Waterbury	69,200	69,200	69,500	68,900	68,800	0	0.0%	400	0.6%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non
Enfield	44,300	44,700	45,700	45,500	44,100	-400	-0.9%	200	0.5%
Torrington-Northwest	32,000	32,100	32,800	32,800	31,700	-100	-0.3%	300	0.9%
Danielson-Northeast	26,300	26,300	26,800	26,800	26,200	0	0.0%	100	0.4%

* Less than					P = Preliminary		R = Revised

Note: Six major Connecticut LMAs are estimated independently from the statewide data by the BLS and cover more than 90% of the nonfarm employment in the state. Thus, estimates will not fully sum to the statewide total.

Hours and Earnings: The Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.1 hours in February 2019, down by six-tenths of an hour from the same month a year ago. Average hourly earnings at $32.68, not seasonally adjusted, were up $1.10 (3.5%) from the February 2018 estimate ($31.58). The resultant average Private Sector weekly pay amounted to $1,081,71, up $17.46 from a year ago (1.6%).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Feb		CHG	Jan	Feb		CHG	Jan	Feb		CHG	Jan
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2019	2018	Y/Y	2019	2019	2018	Y/Y	2019	2019	2018	Y/Y	2019
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,124.24	$1,031.09	$93.15	$1,192.98	41.5	40.9	0.6	42.5	$27.09	$25.21	$1.88	$28.07
DURABLE GOODS	1,222.89	1,114.47	108.42	1,302.67	41.3	42.7	-1.4	41.9	29.61	26.10	3.51	31.09
NON-DUR. GOODS	809.20	732.78	76.42	852.48	42.3	34.5	7.8	44.4	19.13	21.24	-2.11	19.20
CONSTRUCTION	1,101.38	1,042.80	58.58	1,134.07	37.5	35.7	1.8	38.6	29.37	29.21	0.16	29.38

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,081.71	1,064.25	17.46	1,111.22	33.1	33.7	-0.6	33.4	32.68	31.58	1.10	33.27
GOODS PRODUCING	1,323.38	1,278.96	44.42	1,363.10	37.8	39.1	-1.3	38.3	35.01	32.71	2.30	35.59
Construction	1,157.02	1,137.50	19.52	1,195.19	35.2	36.4	-1.2	36.9	32.87	31.25	1.62	32.39
Manufacturing	1,416.88	1,328.00	88.88	1,475.20	39.8	40.0	-0.2	40.0	35.60	33.20	2.40	36.88
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,040.06	1,027.95	12.11	1,065.68	32.3	32.8	-0.5	32.5	32.20	31.34	0.86	32.79
Trade, Transp., Utilities	881.83	846.30	35.53	892.25	32.6	32.5	0.1	32.9	27.05	26.04	1.01	27.12
Financial Activities	1,794.13	1,736.28	57.85	1,773.77	37.0	37.1	-0.1	36.4	48.49	46.80	1.69	48.73
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,244.15	1,263.39	-19.24	1,285.83	33.4	34.5	-1.1	33.9	37.25	36.62	0.63	37.93
Education & Health Ser.	960.07	929.33	30.74	970.88	32.7	32.7	0.0	32.8	29.36	28.42	0.94	29.60
Leisure & Hospitality	465.35	465.43	-0.08	445.66	24.7	25.8	-1.1	24.3	18.84	18.04	0.80	18.34
Other Services	788.48	782.54	5.94	802.00	30.8	30.7	0.1	31.8	25.60	25.49	0.11	25.22

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,193.47	1,144.26	49.21	1,226.01	33.6	32.9	0.7	33.7	35.52	34.78	0.74	36.38
Danbury	1,024.86	954.91	69.95	1,016.40	34.8	34.3	0.5	35.0	29.45	27.84	1.61	29.04
Hartford	1,155.65	1,090.86	64.79	1,172.72	34.1	34.1	0.0	34.2	33.89	31.99	1.90	34.29
New Haven	1,003.93	1,019.31	-15.39	1,045.42	32.5	33.3	-0.8	33.4	30.89	30.61	0.28	31.30
Norwich-New London	795.59	891.16	-95.56	797.34	29.1	32.3	-3.2	29.1	27.34	27.59	-0.25	27.40
Waterbury	922.40	863.74	58.67	935.34	33.8	34.8	-1.0	34.4	27.29	24.82	2.47	27.19

Information for the manufacturing production workweek and earnings can be found in the table section of this release under the "Hours and Earnings" data category. Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses.

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis after being unchanged in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The indexes for shelter and food increased, and the gasoline index rose after recent declines to result in the seasonally adjusted all items increase. The food index rose 0.4 percent, its largest monthly increase since May 2014, as both the food at home and food away from home indexes increased. The gasoline index rose 1.5 percent in February, following three consecutive monthly declines, resulting in the energy index rising 0.4 percent despite declines in the electricity and natural gas indexes.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.2 percent in January. Along with the shelter index, the indexes for personal care, apparel, and education all increased. The indexes for recreation, medical care, used cars and trucks, and new vehicles all declined in February.

The all items index increased 1.5 percent for the 12 months ending February, a smaller increase than the 1.6-percent rise for the 12-months ending January. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.1 percent over the last 12 months, a slightly smaller figure than the 2.2-percent increase for the period ending January. The food index rose 2.0 percent over the past year, its largest 12-month increase since the period ending April 2015. In contrast, the energy index declined 5.0 percent over the last 12 months.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The February 2019 unemployment rate for Connecticut is estimated at 3.8% (seasonally adjusted), unchanged from the revised January 2019 figure and down seven-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.5%. The US jobless rate in February 2019 was 3.8%, down three-tenths of a point from February 2018.

Month	2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018			2019
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.2	8.0	-0.2	7.2	6.6	-0.6	6.1	5.7	-0.4	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.1	-0.4	3.8	4.0	0.2
Feb	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.1	7.7	-0.4	7.0	6.7	-0.3	6.0	5.5	-0.5	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.1	-0.4	3.8	3.8	0.0
Mar	8.3	8.2	-0.1	8.1	7.5	-0.6	6.9	6.7	-0.2	5.9	5.4	-0.5	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.9	4.4	-0.5	4.4	4.0	-0.4
Apr	8.3	8.2	-0.1	8.0	7.6	-0.4	6.8	6.2	-0.6	5.8	5.4	-0.4	5.3	5.0	-0.3	4.8	4.4	-0.4	4.3	3.9	-0.4
May	8.4	8.2	-0.2	7.9	7.5	-0.4	6.7	6.3	-0.4	5.7	5.6	-0.1	5.3	4.8	-0.5	4.7	4.4	-0.3	4.2	3.8	-0.4
Jun	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.9	7.5	-0.4	6.6	6.1	-0.5	5.7	5.3	-0.4	5.2	4.9	-0.3	4.7	4.3	-0.4	4.1	4.0	-0.1
Jul	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.8	7.3	-0.5	6.5	6.2	-0.3	5.6	5.2	-0.4	5.1	4.8	-0.3	4.6	4.3	-0.3	4.0	3.9	-0.1
Aug	8.5	8.1	-0.4	7.8	7.2	-0.6	6.5	6.1	-0.4	5.6	5.1	-0.5	5.0	4.9	-0.1	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.0	3.8	-0.2
Sep	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.7	7.2	-0.5	6.4	5.9	-0.5	5.6	5.0	-0.6	5.0	5.0	0.0	4.5	4.2	-0.3	3.9	3.7	-0.2
Oct	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.5	7.2	-0.3	6.3	5.7	-0.6	5.6	5.0	-0.6	4.9	4.9	0.0	4.5	4.1	-0.4	3.8	3.8	0.0
Nov	8.3	7.7	-0.6	7.4	6.9	-0.5	6.3	5.8	-0.5	5.6	5.1	-0.5	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.2	-0.3	3.8	3.7	-0.1
Dec	8.2	7.9	-0.3	7.3	6.7	-0.6	6.2	5.6	-0.6	5.6	5.0	-0.6	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.1	-0.4	3.8	3.9	0.1

The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics model (LAUS - a statistical model using the CPS â€“ Current Population Survey residential data), the number of Connecticut unemployed residents, seasonally adjusted, was unchanged from January at 73,900. Over the year, the number of the state's jobless residents declined by 11,000 (-13.0%). The state's labor force was unchanged over the month at 1,923,600, and is higher over the year by 34,900 (1.8%).

February 2019 seasonally adjusted average weekly initial unemployment claims for first-time filers in Connecticut fell by 389 claimants (-12.6%) to 2,707 from January 2019, and were lower by 932 claims (-25.6%) from the February 2018 level of 3,639.

Month	2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018			2019
Month	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.
Jan	1,866.1	1,713.9	152.2	1,870.1	1,736.2	134.0	1,902.8	1,786.9	115.9	1,881.6	1,778.2	103.3	1,903.2	1,811.1	92.1	1,888.1	1,802.0	86.1	1,923.6	1,849.7	73.9
Feb	1,862.4	1,711.4	151.0	1,873.3	1,741.5	131.8	1,901.8	1,787.7	114.1	1,882.8	1,780.4	102.4	1,904.3	1,812.3	92.1	1,888.7	1,803.8	84.9	1,923.6	1,849.6	73.9
Mar	1,860.3	1,710.4	149.9	1,876.5	1,746.7	129.8	1,899.7	1,787.6	112.1	1,884.4	1,783.1	101.3	1,904.3	1,812.4	91.9	1,890.3	1,806.9	83.4
Apr	1,860.3	1,711.5	148.9	1,879.5	1,751.6	127.9	1,896.6	1,786.4	110.2	1,886.4	1,786.0	100.4	1,902.9	1,811.6	91.3	1,892.8	1,811.0	81.8
May	1,861.7	1,713.8	147.9	1,882.4	1,756.3	126.1	1,892.8	1,784.4	108.4	1,888.8	1,789.2	99.6	1,900.6	1,810.2	90.3	1,896.0	1,815.8	80.2
Jun	1,863.4	1,716.5	147.0	1,885.8	1,761.2	124.6	1,888.6	1,781.8	106.8	1,891.4	1,792.7	98.7	1,897.9	1,808.6	89.3	1,900.0	1,821.3	78.6
Jul	1,864.6	1,718.7	146.0	1,889.4	1,766.0	123.4	1,884.7	1,779.1	105.6	1,893.6	1,796.1	97.5	1,895.4	1,807.0	88.5	1,905.3	1,828.2	77.0
Aug	1,865.0	1,720.3	144.6	1,893.2	1,770.7	122.6	1,881.7	1,776.8	105.0	1,895.4	1,799.3	96.1	1,893.3	1,805.4	87.9	1,911.0	1,835.5	75.5
Sep	1,865.0	1,722.2	142.9	1,896.8	1,775.1	121.7	1,879.8	1,775.1	104.7	1,897.0	1,802.3	94.7	1,891.6	1,804.1	87.5	1,916.5	1,842.3	74.2
Oct	1,865.5	1,724.7	140.8	1,899.8	1,779.1	120.7	1,879.2	1,774.5	104.7	1,898.3	1,804.9	93.4	1,890.3	1,802.9	87.4	1,920.7	1,847.4	73.3
Nov	1,867.1	1,728.3	138.8	1,901.8	1,782.5	119.3	1,879.6	1,775.0	104.6	1,899.7	1,807.2	92.5	1,889.2	1,801.9	87.3	1,921.2	1,848.0	73.2
Dec	1,869.7	1,733.0	136.7	1,902.8	1,785.1	117.7	1,880.5	1,776.3	104.1	1,901.5	1,809.3	92.1	1,888.4	1,801.5	86.9	1,920.7	1,847.3	73.4


	The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, April 18, 2019 (March 2019 data)


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